Rolling the Dice in Life

December 25, 2010

Main Point: Life hinges on the decisions we make, so we should make good decisions. If we’re in good situations, it’s usually because we’ve made good decisions. If we’re in bad situations, it’s usually because we’ve made bad decisions.

Discussion Starter: Rolling the Dice in Life
Lay out twelve index cards (in a rectangular fashion) that have a number printed on one side and a “situation” written on the other side. Make sure the “situation” side of the card is facing down so it cannot be read, while the number side is facing up, so that it can be read. (Number the cards 1 through 12 to correspond with the possible combinations of the two die. If your small groups are larger than 5 students, you may want to make duplicates for each number. That way, if two kids roll a 7, they can each pick up the 7 card.)

For the “situations,” you may want to write any “situation” students could find themselves in. For instance:

Get in an argument with parents
Go “too far” with boyfriend/girlfriend
Help a friend who’s going through a really hard time
Cheat on a test at school
Join the youth prayer squad
Share your faith with a friend
Lie to a loved one
Use alcohol and/or drugs

(Round out your list of “situations” to best fit your students.)

After you have your cards in place, and your students gathered around them, you’re ready to start. Just give the two die to a student and have him/her roll them. If he rolls a 6, then he has to pick up the card labeled with a 6…but don’t let him look at it yet! Then hand the die to the next student. After she rolls them, have her pick up the corresponding card, without looking at it. Follow this same procedure until all of your students have had a chance to roll the die and pick up a card.

Say: “Life is not random. Life is greatly dictated by the decisions we make from day to day, and from moment to moment. If we make good decisions, life usually goes well. If we make poor decisions, we can end up hurting ourselves and even others.”

“Alright, we’ve all rolled the Dice of Life. We’ve all picked up a card with a ‘situation’ written on the back of it. Most of us are intrigued by what’s written on the back of them, so let’s all take a second to find out our fate.” (Have students read the card backs and give them a few seconds to laugh or moan or comment.)

Transitional Statement:
Aren’t you glad life isn’t based on a roll of the dice? No doubt, some of us were disappointed with the results found on the backside of our cards. Let’s spend the next few minutes talking about what our life situations ARE based on. I think you’ll like it a lot better than just rolling the dice.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

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Discussion Questions:

AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and whether or not we liked what our card said on the backside.

ASK A FEW: Are each of these situations places you could find yourself in fairly easily? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: Do you think these situations were “purely accidental” or “based on our decisions”? Why?

ASK A FEW: Does anybody think “rolling the dice” is a good way to make decisions in life?

ASK A FEW: Can anybody share a better way of making decisions? (Leaders – Allow the students to share a more godly way of making decisions, if they can. Hopefully a few of them will say things like “ask a parent,” or “pray,” or “read the Bible.”)

Read the following passage:

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

ASK SOMEONE: According to verse 3, what were some of the choices people make before deciding to live as Christians?

ASK SOMEONE: According to verse 4, what will the world think of the decision to avoid these sins in the future?

ASK A FEW: Can you give an example of that? (Leaders – For instance, students may be teased for not drinking or for not being promiscuous.)

ASK A FEW: What are some of the things Peter commands believers to do in verses 7 and 8?

ASK A FEW: Do you think “being clear minded, self-controlled, and loving” require decisions…or are they accidental? How do you know?

ASK A FEW: How do you usually make decisions? Do you have a process at all?

ASK A FEW: What do you believe God thinks of your decisions? Do they please and honor Him or not?

ASK A FEW: What decision do you need to finally make that you’ve been putting off?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: I don’t want you to answer this question out loud, but in your heart. Then, remember your answer as we WRAP UP tonight. Cool? Here goes: Do you need to talk about a decision you’ve made or need to make?

Wrap Up:
Tonight, we talked about the importance of making godly decisions. Some people just go through life rolling the dice, but we saw where that can get us: in trouble, in heartbreak, in despair. But when we make godly decisions, our lives usually turn out better. The same can be said of making poor decisions: we when make bad decisions, we usually wind up in bad circumstances.

Making decisions defines us. They are very important. In fact, making decisions is so important that God actually commanded the ancient Israelites to fashion a certain type of clothing for the High Priest to wear when he went before God to make decisions on behalf of the people. Check out what Exodus 28:15 & 30 say:

Think about that: those guys even had special clothes they wore when they made decisions. I guess the least we could do is try to make our decisions based on the passage we read from 1 Peter. I hope that we’ll all do that going forward.

But, some of us in here have already made some really bad decisions, and perhaps, we’re paying the price for them, now. The last question you answered in your breakout groups was, “Do you need to talk about a decision you’ve made, or need to make?”

If so, I want you to know that we’re not going anywhere tonight until we get a chance to chat with you. If it’s important to you, it’s important to us. So, after we pray, come and grab a leader so we can help you. We love you.

Close in Prayer

Written by David R Smith